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As I see it, a major problem with the 'reusable vehicle' concept is that while a pound of 'stuff' that doesn't have to be recoverable adds a pound of spaceborne weight, a pound of stuff that does have to be recoverable adds considerably more. Since every pound of spaceborne weight adds well over a pound of launch weight (since it requires the addition of more fuel to get aloft, which in turn requires more fuel, etc.) adding the extra shielding etc. to make a vehicle reusable adds enormously to the amount of fuel that's required to get it aloft on each and every flight.

And of course we are not willing to invest in alternative launch approaches. Lots have been thought out, and could be tested, but some require some big infrastructure investments.

One example (there are a bunch) is this: bore a tunnel through a mountain from the base to the peak (or near the peak). Run some type of rail system up the tunnel. Mount the launch vehicle on the rail car. Accelerate the rail car up the tunnel. Ensure that the tunnel is evacuated of atmosphere before the run (or at least to a weak vacuum.) As the rail car reaches the exit, open the door. Launch vehicle is already traveling at 1/2 mile per second. Separate from rail car and launch. Rail car commences deacceleration, rail(s) now dip down (like from the peak of a roller coaster) and the rail car returns to bottom of the mountain. Launch vehicle goes on up to orbit.

Sound wild? It isn't - just requires precision in timing. High initial cost - bore the tunnel, big vacuum pumps, lots of power, administration and maintenance infrastructure, etc. But once it is built - much lower cost to orbit, because instead of gaining the 1/2 mile per second from using tons of fuel and a disposable 1st stage, just - race up the tunnel.

Could it happen? No - because it would take several billion in investment, and require all kinds of government regulatory agency signoffs. (Imagine the effect on the local wildlife, pollution, etc. Heck - you couldn't build the shuttle facility today!)

I say no it couldn't happen, but in fact if a small group of billionares decided to do this instead of playing with the stock market - they could probably make it happen. I'm not holding my breath.